How is Your Cancer Treatment Planned and Validated?

After your Simulation Planning Session at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, a dosimetrist will use the information collected to calculate the appropriate dosages of ionizing radiation you will receive. He or she will work with your radiation oncologist to formulate the best cancer treatment plan for you. This plan will also be evaluated and approved by a medical physicist and a radiation specialist. The medical physicist also often verifies your plan on the treatment machine.

Planning and validation are critically important to your cancer treatment process, and it may take the team a week or two to complete your plan. Once your plan is thoroughly validated, a UPMC representative will call you to schedule a verification appointment.